Subject: [Tweeters] Heron Nests Empty - Blk. River - CORRECTION
Date: Mar 12 11:52:03 2009
From: Lynn & Carol Schulz - linusq at worldnet.att.net


I apologize! The Bald Eagle nest is East of the colony, not north. It is located in
a huge bare, probably-dead cottonwood, where the herons used to nest a number of
years ago. It is large, and very obvious.
Yours, Carol Schulz
Des Moines, WA
linusq at att.net
----- Original Message -----
From: "Lynn & Carol Schulz" <linusq at worldnet.att.net>
To: "Tweeters" <tweeters at u.washington.edu>
Sent: Thursday, March 12, 2009 8:05 AM
Subject: [Tweeters] Heron Nests Empty - Blk. River Forest, Renton


Hello Tweets:
I was surprised to see that all the many nests at the Black River Great Blue Heron
colony in Renton were empty yesterday, Wed, Mar11. Information at the Herons Forever
website http://www.heronsforever.org/ (click on About the Great Blue Heron) says that
the colony which the birds started in 1986 is on an island, built there for
protection from predators such as man. But this does not protect them from eagles.
An absolutely riveting sight yesterday was of a huge Bald Eagle nest, with a female
eagle in it, only about 400 ft north of the colony. The eagle must be on eggs, as I
did not see any activity other that the eagle in the nest. From her vantage point,
it looks like she can look down on the nests.
I did not see any herons, other than a fly-by by one bird. I heard from birders
later, that someone had seen one heron at the pond just below the dam. Yesterday, a
juvenile Bald Eagle, and a Red-tailed Hawk both soared over the nests at times.
The website says that usually the herons have come into the nests in late Feb, and
nesting is usually in full swing by mid-March. Up to two years ago, this was the
largest heron colony in three counties.
A group of us will be visiting the heronry on Saturday. I hope to report then that
the nests are being visited by herons.
Yours, Carol Schulz